Patrice & Michael Buck have been dairying for over 20 years. Currently, they milk 22 dairy cows, and are raising a handful of calves for the job. The Bucks have had a lot of success -- it seems that raw milk is much more popular than we all thought. This cream colored milk is thick and rich, and is all natural. The dairy-girls spend their entire lives on the pasture, and Saluda sure has some green grass! Butter Patch Jerseys also sells buttermilk, and none of their milk has been skimmed, to ensure the texture and taste.

The Bucks also raise a small herd of cows for beef, including nine Red Poll brood cows, a very rare breed in South Carolina. These cows are born with a "tenderness" gene which causes their meat to be soft and tasty. The herd also contains a few Black Angus steers, which are growing big fast. The Bucks are proud of their breeds and are members of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. They believe in the idea that a healthy, happy cow produces the healthiest, best-tasting beef, especially when it is finished on good, green grass!

Aside from the beef and dairy operations, Patrice has been working on their "country" store. Decorated with vintage Americana, the store will soon be the home to many specialty products including Patrice's cow's milk herbal soap. Here you can also buy milk from the farm, along with their cage-free brown eggs.

Mike & Patrice Buck own and operate Butter Patch Jerseys & Jersey Thyme Farm. They do all the milking and bottling on-site, with the occasional help from their five daughters and grand children.